NBCSN to televise four elite Thoroughbred prep races over the next two weekends

NBCSN announced today that it will cover four elite Thoroughbred prep races over the next two weekends leading into NBC Sports Group’s exclusive coverage of the Triple Crown races.

The racing telecasts kick off this Saturday, March 29, on NBCSN at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), with the Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park and the Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Last year’s Florida Derby winner Orb went to Churchill Downs as the favorite and emerged as the champion, while the Louisiana Derby featured Palace Malice, who won the 2013 Belmont Stakes.

A week later, on Saturday, April 5, at 5:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN will televise the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct Racetrack and the Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park. Eleven times, the Wood Memorial winner has won the Kentucky Derby, with four of those victorious horses winning the Triple Crown. The Santa Anita winner has gone on to victory at Churchill Downs seven times, including I’ll Have Another, who captured both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2012.

“We are eager to present these important prep races, which build excitement and interest as we head into the Kentucky Derby and the beginning of our Triple Crown season of Thoroughbred racing,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC and NBCSN.